Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Wednesday night, following the death of Abie Nathan: "I heard with deep sorrow of his death, after he suffered from a grave disease and lived in particularly harsh conditions in the last few years."

"Abie Nathan loved life, loved people and loved peace," Olmert said. "He painted the life of Israeli society with a special color of humanity and compassion, and as such we will remember him with love."